The DIY Summernats reportage

* New Year’s Eve * (not Day, though the former usually dictates a carry-over to the latter). My NYE finished at 6.30am and my NYD started at 7.15am. It was a long day….

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

Ant, I don’t think it’s about it being someone’s fault if they’re scantily clad, it’s more in the nature of advice given the current state of things. Of course people shouldn’t get harrassed, but it happens. Dressing sensibly is about making yourself less of a target.

I have to agree with VY here. I made the above comparison between the music festival and the Summernats, and I reckon that the two different “nature of things” environments here do dictate that, sadly, two different approaches need to be taken. At Summernats, covering up would be advisable to avoid unwanted attention whereas at Woodford, the girls can let some of it all hang out and reasonably expect not to be harassed (except on New Year’s Day when a lot of muggles descend from Brisbane and they might have to be more circumspect).

To me, the key word is ‘respect’. (We used that word a lot on New Year’s Eve as MCs when trying to get newbies to respect one of the festival’s major traditions: observing three minutes’ silence half an hour before the year expires, but it applies equally to this discussion.)

I can appreciate that a young woman looks spectacularly beautiful and sexually appealing, but it doesn’t have to extend past pure appreciation. In fact, due to a purely personal rule of thumb, for me it’s even more so for any woman aged (* counts on fingers *) 26 or less. In my world, that constitutes someone for whom I will value as a person, a personality, a colleague, an equal, a friend, a superbly sexual being — but there it endeth.

Call me old-fashioned.

Back more specifically on topic: Channel Nine in Sydney says it may be all over red rover for Summernats in Canberra.

I reckon crowd numbers are way down. Last night espically, it used to be absoulty jam packed. Now it was near dead by about 6pm. Not as many cars going around. Usual bad spots being z shed and fitzroy bld area’s. The way it’s going i think the event will die its own natural death.

Gassed, I worked there too yesterday, but didnt find it to be too bad a problem

Why should females have to cover up. We are not a muslium country yet??
Problem is and this happins at nearly every big event is the 18/30yo (male & female)group and alcohol.
Idiots in cars on roads still do burnouts and the like even without this event. Come down Monash way at nights and you will understand. I do not like the event as it has gone away from the days of, it was all about nice cars. Unfortunally for me i get the pleasure of working around these people at the event 🙁

ant said :

The TV news last night was reporting numbers were down. I wonder why?

Well considering the timing of this years event it can be expected numbers to be a little lower. the organisers opted for this weekend opposed to next as entrants and attendees mostly will go back to work tomorrow. … If it was held next weekend, more time would be needed to taken from work. … they are still expecting (and on track afaik) for a 90,000+ crowd

I like the slideshow. Some great colour and characters in that lot of pics.

The TV news last night was reporting numbers were down. I wonder why?

I’ve never been one to attend Summernats, but as a (former) longtime resident of Gungahlin, I always found it a pain that many would use the relatively deserted streets of Gungahlin during that week for circle-work late at night (plus the closing of Flemington Road in the early days halved our access, less of a problem nowadays though).
But I am surprised this year at how the “overflow” of louts into areas like Mitchell, Gungahlin, Dickson etc is much less than in previous years.
Last summer, it was a serious inconvenience having to commute past EPIC during the Summernats week. This year, apart from the smoke during the circlework contests, it’s barely noticable. No traffic delays. The huge overflow isn’t there.
I figured one of two possible explanations. Either it’s all being managed a lot better this year (hardly likely given its history) or there’s less people going.

Ant, I don’t think it’s about it being someone’s fault if they’re scantily clad, it’s more in the nature of advice given the current state of things. Of course people shouldn’t get harrassed, but it happens. Dressing sensibly is about making yourself less of a target.

Overheard’s point is the crux of it all. Plenty of events and occasions see girls (and boys) getting around scantily-clad, without any issues. So WHY do the Summernats apologists try to use the “it’s their own fault, they need to cover up” line? I think this just highlights that there is something seriously wrong with the way the summernats is promoted and run.

Why the hell should a car show mean packs of appalling males feel they can run amock through the event, and through our town?

I miss the original supercruise, I miss the exciting car vibe of the early summernats, when it was a car show. I like cars, and the things these people do with their cars is frankly amazing. But I don’t go to the summernats now because of the crap that I’m not prepared to put up with (I’d get into fights).

A fish rots from the head.

I recall hearing a person from the Rape Crisis Centre categorically stating on the radio a year or two ago that their stats go up significantly at the time of Summernats.

In the course of 30 minutes of driving around town yesterday afternoon I saw no less than 6 cars that had had damage-causing accidents very recently (so add smash-repairers to the list of people who benefit from the event).

While I support people’s right to appreciate cars, I think the removal of alcohol from the event would make our population safer from sexual abuse and harassment and from dangerous driving by the unsavouries/idiots that the event has come to attract.

BerraBoy68 said :

I’m not interested in Summernats at all but appreciate that real car enthusiasts (such as CoffinRX2 and his partner) need, and should have, an outlet for their passion. I am totally against the antisocial behavior that the event has and brings into Canberra though.

Basically equates to my feelings on the subject, and that’s why I’m glad that a now-permanent fixture on my calendar means I’ll be 1400kms or so away every year that Summernats is on. Coincidentally, the six-day music event I’m returning from is held usually in 30-40 degree temps with 100% humidity and consequently, fit young gorgeous things often do get about with very little on, and in two years of attending the event, I’ve not heard one harassing comment. Some very quiet, aesthetic appreciation (from both sexes, actually — cos the boys like to get around topless and typically the older women like to voice their appreciation) but I’m yet to experience anything nasty along the lines of what I’ve heard of the Summernats.

Hmmmm. There’s an idea. Combine a couple of EPIC events: the SummerNatFolkFestival!

On second thoughts, no. The car nuts can pi– off and leave the place to us at Easter…(which is the only time I ever went to the then Street Nationals in the mid 80s when they WERE held at Easter).

BerraBoy68 said :

Damo said :

If our population was say 300,000 (a highly conservative number, I know) and 30,000 of those there today (the big day at the Nat’s) were Canberran’s, then only 1 in ten attendees are locals. In reality it’s a lot less noting ourt population is bigger than 300,000. That’s hardly the majority and more like a minority.

but if you think about it, Car shows and performance engineering isnt everyones passion … so if 10% of canberra head to an event (thats not fireworks by the lake, or something similar) then I think thats a pretty good turnout

Hey Gun Street Girl, my father-in law-worked in security in very the early days of the Nat’s and tells of hard-core live sex shows put on late at night on the back of flat-bed trucks for the organiser’s pleasure. Isn’t that more blatant hypocrisy than a mixed message?

Genie said :

I haven’t been back since and still greatful the 10 odd boys crammed on the back of the ute who jumped off and leapt to my defence. (I was also forced to sit in front seat for the rest of the afternoon)

Perhaps a bit more of that behaviour might change things. If more people openly objected to the minority of rock apes who cause trouble, rather than making concessions for them (“just ignore them/if you don’t like it, don’t go/wear conservative clothes that won’t attract attention/etc etc”), then maybe we might see a change. Nevertheless, Summernats officials calling for change, and then running the likes of wet t-shirt comps etc, is having a bet both ways. Mixed messages, anyone?

Damo said :

As for the people earlier saying that Canberra people dont enjoy/attend the nats … roughly 30,000 out of the 100,000ish attendee’s are local’s .. so I’d say thats pretty damned good local support

I’ve no problem with anybody saying that some people in Canberra like the Nats. I do have problems when people like John Bowe say that 1) the majority of Canberran’s attend, and 2) that the Nat’s defines my home town.

If our population was say 300,000 (a highly conservative number, I know) and 30,000 of those there today (the big day at the Nat’s) were Canberran’s, then only 1 in ten attendees are locals. In reality it’s a lot less noting ourt population is bigger than 300,000. That’s hardly the majority and more like a minority.

Hi, its CoffinRX2 here on my other computer.

I was back at the nats today in a semi-work context (and no I do not work for the nats) and the crowds were up a fair bit from yesterday, I must say that the crowds, albeit a bit boisterous were rather well behaved today, yes still the few drunks, but really no more problems than outside Mooseheads on a weekend. … Mind you it was only 4pm when I left, but was better behaved that what i’ve seen previously.

As for the people earlier saying that Canberra people dont enjoy/attend the nats … roughly 30,000 out of the 100,000ish attendee’s are local’s .. so I’d say thats pretty damned good local support

Face it – Summernats is an event where many women are scared to go.

When I was barely 16 and went to Summernats with my eldest sister and her mates who had several cars entered, while doing laps I was pulled off the back of a mate’s Ute by some drunk – it was mid-afternoon and I wasn’t quite grabbed around the stomach but a tad higher.

I haven’t been back since and still greatful the 10 odd boys crammed on the back of the ute who jumped off and leapt to my defence. (I was also forced to sit in front seat for the rest of the afternoon)

Some women are scared to go, some go to get attention.

Some guys who go get drunk ad ruin it for others, while some just simply only car about the cars.

yesterday, travelling down drakeford, a convertible shot past me with the summernats logos all over it. I was doing 80, he was well and truly over that. not chic, it was a young guy. My wife commented that it seemed strange that the guy was speeding, not a good advertisement for the event?? I remember summernats of old, there was always a stupid kid who would go too far, be it drinking, speeding or harassing women. the fact that this event is still going on and slowly seems to be cleaning up – not as clean as my wife and I would like, we still won’t take the kids yet…

and I disagree with the ages, there are plenty of 21-30 yo’s playing up around canberra, and as soon as they realise that kambah pool road isn’t for burnouts, the better. It seems that they are here around the nats, but it might be a coincidence.

ant said :

It’s pretty bizarre how the pro-nats people try to deal with criticism. Saying that women have to “dress in appropriate attire” and be accompanied by a male for protection is amazing. What country do we live in again?

another big issue is the way this behaviour spills out into Canberra itself. People in northern Canberra can’t avoid it. It’s not good enough to dismiss their concerns with the good old “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it/don’t go” non-argument.

That women who do go (because they love cars) have to deal with harassment as part of the deal is astonishing, and for the marketing guy and other apologists to say that it’s OK just shows the massive gulf between most people and the people doing this stsuff.

Banning alcohol would do a lot of good. The hoons, the yobs, the women-haters would not go if it was just about the cars. as it is, it’s a festival of drunken, offensive yob behaviour. Remove the alcohol, and you’d have a car show. It’s that simple. And then we could all go and enjoy the cars.

Totally, Ant.

It’s pretty bizarre how the pro-nats people try to deal with criticism. Saying that women have to “dress in appropriate attire” and be accompanied by a male for protection is amazing. What country do we live in again?

another big issue is the way this behaviour spills out into Canberra itself. People in northern Canberra can’t avoid it. It’s not good enough to dismiss their concerns with the good old “if you don’t like it, don’t watch it/don’t go” non-argument.

That women who do go (because they love cars) have to deal with harassment as part of the deal is astonishing, and for the marketing guy and other apologists to say that it’s OK just shows the massive gulf between most people and the people doing this stsuff.

Banning alcohol would do a lot of good. The hoons, the yobs, the women-haters would not go if it was just about the cars. as it is, it’s a festival of drunken, offensive yob behaviour. Remove the alcohol, and you’d have a car show. It’s that simple. And then we could all go and enjoy the cars.

I’m not interested in Summernats at all but appreciate that real car enthusiasts (such as CoffinRX2 and his partner) need, and should have, an outlet for their passion. I am totally against the antisocial behavior that the event has and brings into Canberra though.

Todays CT includes a couple of comments about the Nats by retired race driver John Bowe. He say’s that “the majority of people in Canberra love Summernats as they come here and support it” and “Summernats is Canberra.”

Note to John Bowe: I don’t follow motor racing so don’t know what you were like at it, but please, don’t tell me that ‘the majority’ of Canberran’s attend Summernats (let alone even like it – at best they would be ambivalent like myself) or that we as a city or its people are defined by a 4 day car event that according to its ‘owner’ barely breaks even.

Pandy, unless you have specific information relating to race issues at this year’s summernats I’ll ask you to leave your racism at the door.

Oh sorry to forget clarification on that, I’m talking all races including the aussie bogan.

A car forum I frequent refer to them all as “swedes” … more profiling people for their general attitudes, not racial appearance, as every race has their good, and bad

And are we talking visiting whitey bogans or Lebs as the problem?

Why do I say this, is because I went to Bondi yesterday and FFS there were a lot of guys of Leb appearance (shaved heads, fat, tatts, talking Arabic) there who were walking around as if they did not give a shite and were staring down the girls in their bikinis. Guess what not many Leb girls to be seen. When we were talking to our Sydney hosts about having a BBQ in a local park, they said no way as the Lebs would come around and cause trouble.

So what I am saying dont just paint this kind of behaviour as bogan. It might be another thing altogether.

I’ve been involved with running a few car shows interstate (not to the same extent ot Summernats, but to the extent of a large 3 day event, car show, drags, cruise with tens of thousands of people attending, and licensed event) .. and then i moved to Canberra and went to the summernats for the first time a few years ago late on a saturday afternoon and evening and was pretty disgusted at the behaviour at what was going on.

now I’m certainly not condoning this behaviour at all, but with the reputation that the event has, any female going there, regardless of what they are wearing, are pretty well aware of what they will have to put up with while being there. If you’re not tough skinned, maybe reconsider at what time of the day you go there with your friends.

This all being said, my girlfriend has restored a car and has it entered this year, her first car where she’s done all the work herself and is damned proud to have the car on show and cruising. She’s as tough skinned as anyone I know, but puts upp with it because her car is her passion, she just bites her tongue and doesnt make any comments back to any of the drunken idiots, .. and its hard for me to put up with it too, but her being proud of her car and showing it off is important to her.

I dont know if it’s just me, but it appears that most of the drunken idiots there are interstate people who come here and just run amok, not giving a shit about the reputation they give this event in our city and nationally. … yes I see some of my friends there havign some drinks, sometimes being idiots too, but its the guys that come here, camp and drink 18 hours of the day, or stay locally and just get pretty hammered that cause the problems.

I’m biased, I used to work in the liquor industry so I dont think that banning alcohol is the solution, as working on cars and having a beer is what I feel part of the car culture is about ….. but then again I dont know the proper solution really is.

Dont know if that made any sense, .. but oh well

Pandy said :

So if Chic gets of with a warning, does that mean everyone else will?

Maybe it depends how many three day double passes you’ve got to hand out?

Or is just a tiny bit of celebrity sufficient?

Surely our police readers can explain this one?

So if Chic gets of with a warning, does that mean everyone else will?

Summernats PR guy in the paper wonders if they would be better off banning the scantily clad women, or the leering blokes.

“Does the event weed out those who dress, act and voluntarily perform to fuel increased attention from the opposite sex and ban them? Or do you ban the people that have had their senses heightened by the former?”

They’ve had this issue for over a decade now tho, and done nothing at all, so I don’t think he’s really looking for an answer to his question.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

And not matter what the circumstance, women are innocent of all wrongdoing,while men are guilty of being men.

Of course – because that’s the easy answer that doesn’t require any real thinking.

What we need to do is understand that men are biologically wired for reproduction. Most of the time, this doesn’t cause a problem as we have well established social constructs for interacting with each other. Of course, there are always some men who don’t practice self control as well as they could, but once you add alcohol into the mix, together with the crowd mentality, seeing a woman laugh and flash her breasts can easily be interpreted as an invitation. Realistically, it probably isn’t.

So where does that leave us? Firstly, we need to recognise that running an event where we allow people to drink heavily and girls to wear very little and lift their shirts is conducive to unwanted behaviours that we wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) tolerate. For the girls, this really means that if you don’t want to get hassled, dress conservatively, and go with male company. It isn’t right, but it’s the way things are (and I don’t condone it).

That said, we seem to accept sex and drug education for kiddies when neither is something a 15 year old should be doing. Perhaps we need education for for people in this aspect also.

Post of the year for my money (OK, it’s only 2 Jan but I still think VY is on the money).

Oh, and I realise my post probably offends some people, but let’s focus on the issue rather than the name calling that normally happens on this site, eh, and see if we can come up with some useful ideas.

And not matter what the circumstance, women are innocent of all wrongdoing,while men are guilty of being men.

Of course – because that’s the easy answer that doesn’t require any real thinking.

What we need to do is understand that men are biologically wired for reproduction. Most of the time, this doesn’t cause a problem as we have well established social constructs for interacting with each other. Of course, there are always some men who don’t practice self control as well as they could, but once you add alcohol into the mix, together with the crowd mentality, seeing a woman laugh and flash her breasts can easily be interpreted as an invitation. Realistically, it probably isn’t.

So where does that leave us? Firstly, we need to recognise that running an event where we allow people to drink heavily and girls to wear very little and lift their shirts is conducive to unwanted behaviours that we wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) tolerate. For the girls, this really means that if you don’t want to get hassled, dress conservatively, and go with male company. It isn’t right, but it’s the way things are (and I don’t condone it).

That said, we seem to accept sex and drug education for kiddies when neither is something a 15 year old should be doing. Perhaps we need education for for people in this aspect also.

The ABC is also now reporting on Mr. Henry’s gassy inclinations…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/02/2458242.htm

Have been avoiding Civic and Dickson so all is well. Oh and last night I heard a few burnouts somewhere in and around Turner… 2 of them followed by sirens immediately afterwards 🙂

PB you have got something of a victim mentality going on here.

Face it – Summernats is an event where many women are scared to go.

I am not Blaming you for that. I canunderstand that you aren’t all men.

Please also understand that not all women are in their wet t-shirts offending you at summernats.

So there we have the fundamental dichotomy engendered by “Summernats”: if young ladies expose their breasts, whether bidden or unbidden, then we are/are not to find offense/not find offense in it.

And not matter what the circumstance, women are innocent of all wrongdoing,while men are guilty of being men.

pb…. if girls flashing their titties at you intimidates/threatens you then you need a can of harden the f#ck up!!! (girlyboy)

Of course, absolutely – if girls flashing their breasts intimidates you or makes you feel uncomfortable, report it!

I-filed said :

Anyone who witnesses any form of bad behaviour by Summernats patrons should record it, note it, and forward the information to the police AND Jon Stanhope, as well as posting it here. Remember, accosting you with bad language or even just attitude can be a form of assault, not just intimidation. Also, if you refrain from carrying out your normal activities during Summernats, write to John Stanhope and let the government know.

Can I report girls flashing their breasts as it is a form of intimation/incitement to bad behaviour.

Or is it just naughty boys who you want reported?

sepi said :

It seems the problem is men who think that:

“I saw a girl in a bikini on a ute yesterday = i can harrass solo women in cars throughout Watson.”

And you really do think that men think like that?

Or isn’t it more true that the sort of men who would “harrass solo women in cars throughout Watson”, do not need any inspiration or permission?

Anyone who witnesses any form of bad behaviour by Summernats patrons should record it, note it, and forward the information to the police AND Jon Stanhope, as well as posting it here. Remember, accosting you with bad language or even just attitude can be a form of assault, not just intimidation. Also, if you refrain from carrying out your normal activities during Summernats, write to John Stanhope and let the government know. I definitely curtail my movements during Summernats – I keep away from Woollies, Dickson, avoid Civic, and don’t sleep as well due to late-night street noise throughout the inner north, not just near Downer …

It seems the problem is men who think that:

“I saw a girl in a bikini on a ute yesterday = i can harrass solo women in cars throughout Watson.”

grunge_hippy said :

i think the majority of women who go to summernats go for the attention, especially if they dress in a prevocative manner. those that sit up the back of the ute and flash when asked are clearly doing it because they want to, not because they are being asked to by drunken morons.

We should respect them for having liberated their sexuality from the control of men, and treat them as good people. After all who are we to say in which way they should behave, women should have equal rights with men to bare their chests.

The shooters thread convinced me that no matter how a woman dresses or acts we should NEVER speak of them in anything other than polite terms, and allow them to be semi naked in public if that is their choice.

If they choose to be near naked, then that is their right, and good on them for maintaining a figure which they are proud to flaunt put, not on display, but to be exposed in a non sexual manner.

Where’s Jim Jones when you need him?

i have never been subjected to harassment at a rock gig… and i am up front for most of them. that statement is beyond stupid. i have been to summernats once, and found it an entirely tiring and boring experience. We much prefer to go and stand in braddon and watch the cars go back and forth up lonsdale st. (and being busted for trying burnouts) far more entertaining!

i think the majority of women who go to summernats go for the attention, especially if they dress in a prevocative manner. those that sit up the back of the ute and flash when asked are clearly doing it because they want to, not because they are being asked to by drunken morons. there are women who go for the cars, dress appropriately and still get jeered and harassed. of course its not acceptable, but its the summernats culture. good, bad or ugly, its the way it is. i know several guys who wont let their wives/daughters go to the nats after dark. i think the alcohol free day is the way to go if you want to go for the cars. if you dont, then stop your whinging. it aint gonna change in a hurry.

Driving solo along Aspinall St near Carotel Motel at 8.30pm last night and was forced to slow down (from about 45kph) to about 20kph to dodge the possibly inebriated but clearly staggering group of young men all wearing dark clothing and walking in the middle of the road and heading in the direction of EPIC. As I slowed down to avoid hitting any of them they gestured at me for a lift and began to approach the car (Audi A3) in a somewhat threatening manner. Yes, I could have just sped up and hoped I didn’t hit any of them but then I would have been the one in the wrong if one of them had staggered the wrong way. Managed to avoid and evade. Summernats tools – and not the good kind . Luv’em.

I agree that harrassment of anyone is not acceptable-however I do also believe that some of these young ladies could help the situation.

Every year there is media reports of women being harrassed at the summernats, yet every year girls turn up to the summernats wearing very little.

In the line to buy my season pass yesterday, there was a couple,maybe mid 30’s, also waiting in the line. The conversation I overheard shocked me. He was telling his mate that “if any c*&t looks at my missus ,I’m gonna flog them”. Yet he was happy to let his ‘missus’ walk out of the house in what I could only describe as a piece of cloth barely covering anything.

I just dont get it. Back in my younger(leaner) days, I was always whistled,cheered and leered at-and no I didnt get any part of my body out. Now that Im a bit wiser I wear sensible clothing-jean shorts,3/4 pants etc. I have in the last 3 years been asked once for a chest show.

I guess what I am trying to say is whilst we cant stop it, there is a little bit of prevention that can be carried out.

Duke said :

BerraBoy – harassment of women is never acceptable, but the girls who parade around Summernats wearing bikinis and flashing their breasts from the back of utes, you don’t think they’re inviting wolf whistles and cheers from the boys?

Hey Duke, I certainly do. But I’m sure they wouldn’t argue that they are being ‘harrassed’, but rather ‘appreciated’. Appreciated as what exactly, I don’t know…

And you’re spot on that ‘harrassment of women, or anybody for that matter, is never acceptable.

I have to agree with Duke. It seems many Canberrans (and probably non-Canberrans) believe that Summernats is the cause of harrassment and sexual assault. I don’t believe this is the case. Yes, some women attend Summernats and are subjected to abuse. But like Duke points out the same happens at many other places, possibly even on a greater scale. Attend a rock concert. Stand in amongst the crowd close to the stage and see how many women, or in some cases girls, are assulted. Why do we never read about this sort of thing?

I doubt banning alcohol will help much either. Log in to an internet chat room where a teenage girl is on webcam. Do you really think the hundreds of men and boys asking her to expose herself are all drunk? If a person does not have any respect for others, keeping them sober is not going to make any sort of difference.

Each year these discussions come up and everyone acts as though women would be free of assult and harrassment if not for Summernats. These crimes occur every day. Unfortunately most of them go unreported.

No, sepi, you need to read again what I said. I have already stated that harassment of women is unacceptable, whatever the place or situation.

What I object to is people who single out Summernats but who, in all their arguments, make no mention of the commonplace harassment that exists at many other venues and public spaces.

Ahem, yesterdays paper

So….harrassment of women at Summernats is fine cos they get harrassed at all sporting events and nightclubs and should be used to it??

Anyway, I’ve never heard anyone say they got so harrassed at a nightclub they’re never going out again. Yet plenty of women won’t go to Summernats. From today’s paper:

“And each year I go, I am hassled.

Not by the car owners. They are the perfect picture of polite enthusiast, explaining and re-explaining, if need be the work they have done to their cars.

It is the 30-something-year-old male patrons, sunburnt and drunk, who think whenever they see a woman they can make lewd and crude comments, and try to grope her behind.

It is like they see Summernats as a chance to unleash their inner bogan for the weekend free of any kind of reprimand.

The cars are a mere backdrop to the boozing and breast-watching. Any woman at Summernats surely couldn’t be there because she likes cars, she must have a burning desire to rip her shirt off. All we have to do is hound her and humiliate her enough.

Last year a male friend had to step in front of me as a particularly drunk and semi-clothed man repeatedly grabbed at me to be in a photo with him, despite polite refusals.

The result? Getting spat at and a being called a string of expletives ending in ”stuck-up bitch”.

It was 3pm.”

Duke said :

BerraBoy – harassment of women is never acceptable, but the girls who parade around Summernats wearing bikinis and flashing their breasts from the back of utes, you don’t think they’re inviting wolf whistles and cheers from the boys?

I witnessed the very thing happening the other day! A young lady in a car, was kind enough to expose her breasts to a group of passing boys; “Thank you,” they cried in unison, “we deeply respect your ability to be proud if your mammary glands, and think no less of your intellectual or other prowess for doing so. We would genuinely like to engage with you in a non threatening environment, in order to get to know you as a person”

Very heartening I found it.

The horror! the horror!!! exterminate all the brutes!

For the love of God, Sepi, get some perspective. Go to Civic on a Friday night or weekend, or a League match, or a one-day cricket match, or any nightclub and check out the harassment of women.

One percent of tens of thousands of women harrassed is still hundreds of women harrassed – and this stat comes from within Summernats, so it is probably much higher.

And I somehow doubt they are counting the flashing bikini wearers as being harrassed.

Still – so far so good in teh surrounding suburbs this year.

BerraBoy – harassment of women is never acceptable, but the girls who parade around Summernats wearing bikinis and flashing their breasts from the back of utes, you don’t think they’re inviting wolf whistles and cheers from the boys?

gun street girl said :

There’s another article in today’s edition, this time from a bloke who markets Summernats. Apparently only a small minority of women (1% of “tens of thousands”) who attend Summernats will attract unwanted harrassment. I’d love to know where his stats come from!

Or how he defines ‘unwanted harassment’ as opposed to the wanted type. Perhaps he’s one of the ‘she was dressed as a tart so she must have wanted/deserved it’ brigade.

I live in Watson and am in a pretty good/bad (depending on your viewpoint) position to view Summernats. So far, it has been quite tolerable. Other than the smoke from the burnouts yesterday, things have been OK. Mind you, things generally start to get bad from this afternoon onwards.

ant said :

There’s an intriguing article in today’s CT by one of their reporters, who did up her own car with her dad, and who outlines why she doesn’t go to the ‘nats, because of the booze and anti-female culture.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/louts-ruin-summernats-for-all/1397935.aspx?storypage=0

If no-grog day is successful (and Missalli’s comments above suggest that it was), there’ll be more pressure for grog and strip shows to be dispensed with altogether.

There’s another article in today’s edition, this time from a bloke who markets Summernats. Apparently only a small minority of women (1% of “tens of thousands”) who attend Summernats will attract unwanted harrassment. I’d love to know where his stats come from!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/unfair-bias-against-car-lovers/1398415.aspx?storypage=0

I hear that his royal summnernat highness, Mr Chic Henry, leads by example (NOT) by being caught speeding on New Years Day near the Summernats venue at Epic. 30K+ over the limit as I hear it. If the organiser, who brags of a safe and family friendly event is not responsible enough himself to do the right thing, what chance do we have of others being sensible. As I understand it, 30k + means four points off his licence, doubled to eight at this time of the year. I wonder if Mr Henry will now have to walk? No Mr Henry, you and your event are not above the law. It was thug security guards last year and your irresponsible driving this year that leaves a sour taste in my and many other Canberran mouths.

There’s an intriguing article in today’s CT by one of their reporters, who did up her own car with her dad, and who outlines why she doesn’t go to the ‘nats, because of the booze and anti-female culture.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/louts-ruin-summernats-for-all/1397935.aspx?storypage=0

If no-grog day is successful (and Missalli’s comments above suggest that it was), there’ll be more pressure for grog and strip shows to be dispensed with altogether.

I took the kids(8,7 and 4) yesterday to see what this “demo day” was all about and I must admit, we had a fantastic day.

The kids were given a ride in a couple of really decent cars, the drivers all had impeccable manners.Highlight of the day for them.

I found that the general behaviour of the crowd was also outstanding. No boobs, nor any chanting for boobs-although some of the little girls in there needed clothing donations,bit sparse.

All in all, if this alcohol free day continues, I will take the kids every year.